From the lock island you can reach the Ruhr Island. The transition is marked by a hydroelectric power station from the 1920s with the return pumping station next to it. Built from classic Ruhr sandstone, the buildings look wonderfully old-fashioned (and photogenic!). However, the power plant has been repeatedly modernized and, with an average of 20 million kilowatt hours annually, covers at least 15% of the RWW's energy needs. The “used” water flows out on the north side of the building, an exciting sight. Things are a little quieter upstream, but before the water rushes into the power plant, driftwood and similar disruptive factors have to be dredged out, which happens several times a day using large arms and a conveyor belt, depending on the level of pollution.
The following section is unfortunately quite crowded when the weather is nice, especially on weekends... However, during the week or even when the sky is overcast, things are much quieter here. Especially on days like this, it's worth looking to the right, where there is a water protection area. A colony of nutrias has been established there for some time and is apparently feeling right at home. Nutrias are fur-bearing animals related to beavers that were originally imported from South America for their fur. The animals living in the wild here managed to escape or were abandoned.